Aitor

It is intense yet surprisingly normal. What is really funny is that someone with a basket full of full bodied fried fish on their head, someone with a stack of fifty pairs of socks on their head and someone riding four stacked on a little moped taxi is considered normal but that white girl over there walking down the street is the biggest spectacle ever. Pretty funny.
This city is huge decrepit and vibrant at the same time. Don't ask me how to get anywhere; it's like a national geographic magazine every time you go out. However here on campus is a very small bubble and at times you almost forget that you are in Nigeria.... until you go shopping...you absolutely have to have a driver. Finding produce that doesn't horrify you has been the hardest but I had measureable success today after I got up the nerve to talk with a street vender. Of course I probably got the "skin tax" as they call it but I don't mind most venders are scratching out a living. The unemployment rate is so high here.
It is a city- a very big city. As a city it is intimidating so far but each day something is falling into place as the reality of being here replaces the expectation of coming. A routine is beginning to develop.
Harper is still three going through a whiney phase. I am still a teacher and need to get my classroom ready to teach. Andrew and I are still doing what our relationship does.
But I would be kidding you if I said it was "normal" yet.

However, it hasn't been too hot yet and it even rained. 85 everyday but they keep saying this definitely will not last. A parrot flew by today all green and yellow just like in a pet store.
Philosophically everyday has tested my cultural norms and expectations. Hiring a nanny and steward is just weird. Hearing people talk about "them" and us and conversations about how some help is treated or paid is appalling and fascinating. Mostly it leaves me torn. Is this exploitation or actual help? The nanny we hired is also very old. (My guess is that she is at least 70 though with black folks it is hard for me to judge age) So of course I was realizing how ageist I am too! Should this woman have to work and how much do I pay her. Andrew and I decided that we were significantly increasing the going wage for our employees. (Average $150-200 a month) So we paid our conscientious so we would feel better. I guess this is why I will never be rich. And you know how I love a good deal but these are people’s lives here.
On the other hand other goods are through the roof expensive. Apple juice $10 Ziploc bags $10 cheap wine $10 (this might be my Nigerian persona: wino) We saw regular parmesan cheese for $70 ...and definitely don't expect to find it in one place. And expect anywhere you go to take at least three hours minimum.
Overall, it is an adventure as far as knowing what I think about anything here or our decision to come the jury is out not that any of that really matters either.